Plants For A Future Meeting, 20 July 2008

A very productive meeting was held at the Cornwall site of PFAF, The Field, Penpol. Four groups of people were present, representing the current activities and interests. Ken Fern, the founder of PFAF was there with his family. There were members of the Land Club, who have been involved in working on The Field for several years. There were past and present trustees of the PFAF Charity. There were also two people interested in being part of the team carrying out the two-year Research Project agreed to by the Charity.



One outcome of the meeting was that we all became clearer about our respective roles, and the principles we wish to abide by. This means we also recognised some of the weaknesses from the past. In the case of the Charity, we recognise that there is a danger of over-relying on trustees taking on administrative responsibilities, for which, as trustees, they cannot be paid. We resolved not to let that happen in future, and to ensure that the trustees focus on reaching decisions on strategy and policy, and deciding how the tasks identified should be carried out.



It was recognised at the meeting that the Charity is best placed to carry out the outreach side of PFAF. Ken Fern’s vision has always had a local and a global aspect. The local side has been developing The Field, which after 18 years is a rich ecosystem consisting of a prolific mixture of indigenous woodland and plants chosen for their usefulness, many of which are trees and perennials, and new and unusual plants rather than traditional cultivars. More people are needed to continue working on the land, and the Charity has commissioned the research study in large part to make what has been achieved on The Field better known and to draw new people in – and old people back. We need more people to get involved in the Charity too. In particular, following the recent change of trustees, we need a new trustee.





Request for a new trustee for Plants For A Future



Following recent changes, the Plants For A Future Charity is seeking someone interested in becoming our third trustee, the current two being Chris Marsh and George Sobol. The duties will not be burdensome, and in terms of time will mean attending at most quarterly trustees meetings, unless the person wants to be more active.



The Charity also needs someone with suitable skills to work on the main website and plants database at www.pfaf.org, and this is a job which we expect to pay for (not an unpaid duty for a trustee). We are also looking for a base for our administration, to provide a service for members and enquirers. We are also seeking people interested in moderating online enquiries and discussions.



The Charity (No. 1057719, a charitable company limited by guarantee) was set up in 1996, and its Objects are:

To advance the education of the public by the promotion of all aspects of ecologically sustainable vegan-organic horticulture and agriculture with an emphasis on tree, shrub and other perennial species; and the undertaking of research into such horticulture and agriculture, and dissemination of the results of such research.

If you are interested we’d like to know what skills you have to offer. An interest in plants for food and other uses, especially from trees and perennials, and in how to grow them, would be an advantage (would be great, actually!) but is not essential. Experience of fund raising and drawing up business plans is, of course, desirable – but we won’t be expecting you to do all the work. This is an opportunity for someone interested in developing and promoting alternative methods of food growing and land use, and in sustainable methods of achieving food security in Britain and beyond.